THE CALLING OF THE CHURCH AND THE ROLE OF THE
STATE IN THE MORAL RENEWAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN
COMMUNITY
MOTSHINE A SEKHAULELO
Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree Magister Artium (Ethics) at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University
Supervisor: Mrs. M.C. de Lange Co-supervisor: Prof. J.M. Vorster Potchefstroom 2007
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My sincere appreciation to the following people and institutions for their support and encouragement during the process of writing this dissertation:
The Triune God who called me to ministry of the Word, and also gave me the necessary gifts to finish this work.
My wife, Dikeledi, and four children Katlego, Kentse, Omphemetse and Reaoleboga for their unwavering support during the course of my studies.
My supervisor, M.C. de Lange, for her uncompromising guidance in the entire process of writing this dissertation. I also thank my co-supervisor, Prof. J.M. Vorster for his support.
The librarians of Ferdinard Postfna Library and the Theological Seminary Library for their untiring assistance.
My friends and the entire staff of the Faculty of Theology of the North-West University.
Prof. J.H. Van Wyk for his support and encouragement during my stay in Potchefstroom.
The family of Rev. Moretsi, who provided me with accommodation and physical support from time to time during my visits to Potchefstroom.
The support given by the Reformed Churches of Meadowlands and Linden during the course of my studies.
ABSTRACT
"THE CALLING OF THE CHURCH AND THE ROLE OF THE STATE IN THE
MORAL RENEWAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNITY"
The main mm of this study was to investigate the prophetic calling of the Church and the role of the state in the moral renewal of the South African community.
The method of research followed in this study was to study primary and secondary sources, as well as appropriate biblical teachings and theological principles relevant to this study and to systematize the information therein.
The gist of the study was to outline the profile and manifestation of moral decay in South African community and, to define the role of the Church and state towards moral regeneration. What transpired was that due to the profile of moral decay within the South African context, the Church and state should play a critical and positive role towards the renewal of morality in South Africa.
In conclusion, the fact that the Church and the state each have a particular role to play as driving agents for moral regeneration of South African was confirmed. It is also important to stress the fact that the State cannot be value free or neutral. The word of God speaks of human governments in two-fold way: in a normative way, and in a descriptive way; telling us what they ought to do and be and what they actually turn out to do and be. Both these elements in God's word are reflected in of the Reformed Confession. Therefore, the modern-day concept of a neutral or secular state can be questioned. KEY WORDS VALUES CONSTITUTION MORALITY IMMORALITY STATE CHURCH
OPSOMMING
DIE ROEPING VAN DIE KERK EN DIE ROL VAN DIE STAAT IN DIE MORELE HERNUWING VAN DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE GEMEENSKAP
Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie is om die profetiese roeping van die kerk en die rol van die staat in die moreie hernuwing van die Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskap te ondersoek.
Die metode van navorsing wat in hierdie studie gevolg is, was om beide primere en sekondere bronne te bestudeer asook relevante bybelse leerstellinge en teologiese beginsels wat betrekking het op die studie en om die inligting te sistematiseer.
Die essensie van die studie was om die profiel en die manifestering van moreie verval in die Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskap te omskryf, en om die rol wat die kerk en die staat speel in moreie agteruitgang te definieer. Wat hieruit volg is dat, as gevolg van die profiel van moreie verval binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks, die kerk en staat 'n kritieke en positiewe rol behoort te speel in die hernuwing van moraliteit in Suid-Afrika.
Gevolglik is dit vasgestel dat die kerk en die staat elk 'n spesifieke rol te speel het as dryfkragte vir die moreie herlewing van Suid-Afrika. Dit is ook belangrik om te beklemtoon dat die staat nie waardevry of neutraal kan wees nie. Die word van God beskryf menslike regerings op twee maniere: in 'n normatiewe manier, en in 'n deskriptiewe manier; waarin ons vertel word wat hulle behoort te doen en behoort te wees en wat hulle uiteindelik is. Beide die elemente in God se woord word weergegee in die Gereformeerde Belydenis. Dus kan die moderne konsep van 'n neutrale of sekulere staat bevraagteken word.
SLEUTELTERME: WAARDES GRONDWET MORALITEIT IMMORALITEIT STAAT KERK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE... 1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 TITLE 1 1.2 BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM STATEMENT 1
1.2.1 Background 1 1.2.2 Problem Statement 2 1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES 3
1.3.1 Aim 3 1.3.2 Objectives 3 1.4 CENTRAL THEORETICAL ARGUMENT 4
1.5 METHODOLOGY 4 1.6 CHAPTER OUTLINE 5
CHAPTER TWO 6 THE PROFILE AND MANIFESTATION OF MORAL DECAY IN SOUTH
AFRICA TODAY 6 2.1 Introduction 6 2.2 Drug abuse 6
2.2.1 Contributing factors 6 2.2.2 Consequences of drug abuse 9
2.2.3 Possible strategy to eliminate a society's drugs problem 10
2.3 Criminality and violence 12 2.3.1 A spiraling of crime rates 12
2.3.1.1 Factors that encourage violent crime 13
2.3.1.2 Impact of crime 15 2.3.1.3 Summary 15 2.3.2 Domestic violence 16
2.3.2.1 The meaning of domestic violence 17 2.3.2.2 The dynamics of domestic violence 18 2.3.2.3 The cycle of domestic violence 18 2.3.2.4 Effects of domestic violence on women and children 19
2.3.2.5 The long-term strategies to eliminate domestic violence 20
2.3.3 Summary 21 2.4 A culture of corruption 21
2.4.1 Corruption in state institutions 21 2.4.2 Causes of corruption in public sector 23 2.4.3 Corruption in the private sector 27 2.4.4 The basic causes of corruption in the private sector 28
2.4.5 A number of factors combine to reduce the extent of corruption ....28
2.5 Ethical perspectives 29
CHAPTER THREE 31 THE CALLING OF THE CHURCH IN MORAL RENEWAL OF SOUTH
AFRICAN COMMUNITY 31 3.1 Introduction 31 3.2 Brief explanation of the concept Kingdom 32
3.3 The relationship between the Church and the Kingdom 32
3.3.1 The Church is the object of the Kingdom 32 3.3.2 The Church proclaims the Kingdom 33 3.3.3 The Church is the custodian of the Kingdom 33
3.3.4 The Church is the instrument of the Kingdom 34 3.4 The role of the church in the perspective of the Kingdom 35
3.4.1 . Stewardship 36 3.4.2 Salvation 38 3.4.3 Worship 38 3.4.4 Prayer 40 3.4.5 Mission 40 3.4.6 Education 41 3.4.7 Proclamation 43 3.4.8 Evangelism 43 3.4.9 Discipleship 44 3.5 Church as organism 45 3.5.1 Sexual immorality 46 3.5.1.1 Homosexuality 46 3.5.1.2 Teenage pregnancies 47 3.5.1.3 Christians attitude towards sexual immorality..'. 48
3.5.1.5 Doctrine of the creation 49 3.5.1.5 The essence of sexual intercourse 50
3.5.2 Disintegration of the nuclear family 51
3.5.3 HIV/Aids 52 3.5.4 Poverty 54 3.5.5 Crime and violence 55
3.6 Summary 55 CHAPTER FOUR ...57 THE ROLE OF THE STATE IN MORAL RENEWAL OF THE SOUTH
AFRICAN COMMUNITY. ...57
4.1 Introduction 57 4.2 Theological founding of the State 57
4.3 The role of the State in moral renewal 58 4.3.1 Applicable legislation or statutes 58
4.3.1.1 The children's Act 38 of 2005 61
4.3.1.2 Civil Unions Act 63 4.3.1.3 The termination of pregnancy Act 92 of 1996 66
4.3.1.4 The right to privacy 69 4.3.1.5 The right to health care and social security 71
4.4 Development of the core values of community 72
4.4.1 A culture ofrespect in schools 73
4.4.2 Ubuntu 74 4.4.3 Sexual morality 75
4.4.4 Family life 75 4.4.5 Respect of life and property 75
4.4.6 Accountability and responsibility 76
4.4.7 Honesty 77 4.4.8 Diligence 77 4.4.9 Love 78 4.5 Improving the quality of life of the population 82
4.5.1 Public justice 83 4.5.2 HIV/Aids 84 4.5.3 Safety and security .-. 86
4.6 Summary 90
CHAPTERS 91 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS. 91
5.1 Introduction 91 5.2 Findings 91 5.3 Recommendations: (The process of moral renewal) 92
5.4 Contributions 96
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
1.1 TITLE
THE CALLING OF THE CHURCH AND THE ROLE OF THE STATE IN MORAL RENEWAL OF SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNITY
1.2 BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM STATEMENT
1.2.1 Background
The South African Constitution, which was adopted in May 1996, contains the most important rules of law concerning the political system of a country. These include rules of law on the institutions of government in the country, in particular at national level, their powers and how they must exercise these powers. A Bill of Rights as part of the new entrenched Constitution protects everyone's defined rights against infringement. The independent courts, which include the new Constitutional Courts, determine whether any action, including laws of Parliament, is consistent with the Constitution (Rautenbach & Malherbe, 1998:5). Through mechanisms such as one citizenship and values such as: human dignity, equality, racialism and non-sexism, the Constitution aspires to build one nation, but in various ways it also attempts to accommodate the diversity of interests in South African society and to ensure justice for all. Examples are: culture, religion, education, women, traditional law, the recognition of self-determination for communities, and the establishment of offices such as the Public Protector and the Commissions for Human Rights, Gender Equality and the Promotion of the Rights of cultural, religious and linguistic communities. This new constitutional dispensation has had a profound effect on the lives of all South Africans (Malherbe & Rautenbach, 1998:5).
The new government has already succeeded in a number of ways, e.g. its strong emphasis on human rights, taking a leading part in the campaign against nuclear proliferation, the banning of landmines and conflict resolution in Africa (Venter,
1998:321). In 2004, millions of South Africans celebrated a decade of democracy after a successful and peaceful political transition from the demise of segregated development in 1994 (Motloung & Mears, 2002: 531). However, one of the major and the most pressing challenges faced by the South African government, non-governmental organisation, churches, and the community at large is the issue of moral decay. The moral decay in South Africa is a growing threat to the country's new democracy. Principal problems like the high percentage of absolute inequality, the high incidence and levels of crime, rape, fraud and corruption, women and child abuse, disintegration of families, the high rates of HIV/AIDS infection and the serious deterioration of the natural environment threaten to destroy the South African society (De Villiers, 2003:25; Vorster, 2004:225). Other symptoms of moral decay include among others, murder, xenophobia, violence, drugs, racism, muggings, hijacking, the gap between "haves" and "haves-nots", perverted religion, divorce, abortion, prostitution, homosexuality, pre-marital sex, backbiting, greed and corruption in state and civil society (Richardson, 2003:5; cf. Kotze, 2000:431; Koopman, 2002:451; Koegelenberg, 2003:1; Kotze, 2000:421-436; Mashau, 2005:3; de Bruyn, 1996:103).
Other factors, which also contribute to the decay of morality in South Africa today, include among others: retrenchment, educational levels, unemployment, syndicates, corruption, bribery, and violence and family disruptions. Given this state of affairs, the time has come for the government, the church and other stakeholders to participate fully in the moral regeneration campaign of the South African society. Among the "seedbeds" that can play a vital role in the much needed moral regeneration include among others the local community, family, faith communities, voluntary civil organisations, arts and art institutions, education, the media, the government, and the nation at large (Meiring, 2003:223).
1.2.2 Problem Statement
This many-faceted issue of moral restoration has all along been of serious concern to many sectors in South Africa, including the Church. Evidence of this is found in the various name tags given to these periods, such as reformation, transformation, renaissance, ubuntu, to name but a few (see Schutte, 1994:29; cf. Smit, et. al,
1999:6). Many moral issues that need attention in the new South Africa are not altogether new. While issues relating to poverty, human rights, economic inequality, and sexism have to some extent been discussed by Christian ethicists in the previous political dispensation (De Villiers, 1999:83), the role of the Church and State with regard to moral regeneration in the post 1994 South African context is yet to be clearly defined. De Villiers (2003:23) rightly remarked that there is at present considerable confusion in church and theological circles in South Africa about the most appropriate approach to issues of public morality. Given this context, the focus of this research will endeavour to answer this question:
What is the profile of moral decay in contemporary South Africa, and what role do the State and the Church have towards driving moral renewal in South Africa?
This question can be divided into four sub-questions. These are:
• What is the profile of morality in South Africa today? • What is the role of the Church towards moral restoration? • What is the role of the State in moral regeneration?
• What recommendations can be made towards moral restoration?
1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES
1.3.1 Aim
The main aim of this study is to outline the profile of moral decay in the South African community, and to define the calling of the Church and the role of the State towards moral regeneration.
1.3.2 Objectives
• To trace and outline the profile and manifestation of morality in South Africa today.
• To research and outline the calling of the Church towards moral renewal of morality in South Africa.
• To investigate and outline the role the State has towards the renewal of morality in South Africa.
• To make recommendations towards moral regeneration.
1.4 CENTRAL THEORETICAL ARGUMENT
This dissertation argues that there are definite signs of moral decay over a wide sphere of human endeavour in South Africa, and that the State and the Church each have a particular role to play as driving agents for moral renewal.
1.5 METHODOLOGY
• This study in ethics is based on the classic Reformed tradition.
• To research and outline the profile and manifestation of moral decay in South Africa today, primary and secondary articles and books indicated in the bibliography will be consulted, analysed and interpreted in a comparative literature study.
• To research and outline the calling of the Church towards moral restoration appropriate Biblical teachings and theological principles will be applied and primary and secondary comparative literature will be consulted, analysed and interpreted.
• To research and outline the possible role the State has in moral renewal, primary and secondary comparative literature will be consulted, analysed and interpreted.
1.6 CHAPTER OUTLINE
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: The profile and the manifestation of moral decay in South Africa today
Chapter 3: The calling of the church in moral renewal of South African community
Chapter 4: The role of the state in moral renewal of the South African community
CHAPTER TWO
THE PROFILE AND MANIFESTATION OF MORAL DECAY IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY
2.1 Introduction
The objective of this chapter is to outline the profile and the manifestation of moral decay in South Africa. Due to the limitations of a dissertation, only three of these social problems facing our country will be examined, [n order to reach these objectives, the following will be dealt with: firstly, attention will be given to the problems of drug abuse. Secondly, attention will also be given to criminality and violence, which is a continuation and a worrying trend in South Africa today. Thirdly, attention will be given to the culture of corruption in State and private sectors. Finally, an overall ethical perspective of this chapter will be given.
2.2 Drug abuse
There may have been a time'when the use of drugs was considered to be an American or British problem. However, today it has become an African problem to the extent that a month hardly passes without media reports on large quantities of drugs having been intercepted in a number of African cities and townships (Mwamwenda, 1995:485; cf. Lauer, 1995:108; Nevid et ai, 2000:305). Hosken (2007:2) also agrees saying, "Figures revealed that South Africa has 235 777 problem drug users, which cost the economy more than RIO-billion a year." Huisman and Davids (2007:4) also support the above-mentioned statement saying South African's drug-dependence crisis is trickling down into all sectors of society, with professionals getting high at their work places.
2.2.1 Contributing factors
One of the major reasons for substance abuse and dependence is based on the fulfilment of the need for the use of drugs. Users experience calmness, pleasure and relaxation as a result of substance abuse and dependence. On the other hand, the various contributing factors have a double-barrelled effect: They maintain demand by
encouraging use of drug and they guarantee a supply. However, many people in South Africa are motivated to engage in drugs for one or more of the following reasons:
• Powerful organisation
The structural factors that create the demand for drugs are crucial. There, is also a powerful organisation of supply. For instance, tens of thousands of tons of cocaine, marijuana and opinah are grown in Latin America, processed in refineries, and smuggled into the United States of America every year. Some of the drug suppliers have their own armies and use terrorist activities to intimidate officials. In addition, the smugglers exploit the massive corruption that exists in all layers of government (including law enforcement agencies) and among business people (who may "launder" drug money) (Lauer, 1995:117). Given this situation the new political dispensation in South Africa has opened up its borders to international trade. This has created the tendency for individuals and groups from abroad to build links with individuals and groups within South Africa (Popenoe, 1998:151).
The following information confirms that South Africa has become a much-preferred destination for drug smugglers:
> In 2005 an estimated 2 tons of amphetamines entered South Africa and were used by 1.2 million people who paid R143 million for the drugs, while 100 000 people used a ton of ecstasy, for which they paid R610 million.
> In Pretoria, the use of Nyaope (a mixture of heroin and dagga) is on the increase, while mandrax use is rising in Durban, with the use of Cat on the increase in Gaunteng.
> In Cape Town, Tik is used by nearly 42% of all drug abusers (Hosken, 2007:2).
• Conformity
People like to conform as a way of getting approval from others. The testimony of drug users often includes phrases such as: "To be like the others" and "to be liked by my friends". This is especially true for adolescents who may yield to peer pressure in an attempt to conform. This means that if certain group members use drugs, others in the group will want to subscribe to the expectations of the dominant majority only to maintain membership in such groups. This may not be necessarily the best way to conduct oneself, particularly in matters involving the use of harmful drugs (Mwamwenda, 1995:488; cf. Gouws, 2001:182).
• Curiosity
Concomitant with the above need is the adolescent's needs to experience adventures and to feel the elation that may be the result of a job well done or obstacles and difficulties overcome. By nature people tend to be curious and, therefore, explore to find out what is unknown. As part of curiosity, people want to find out what kind of impact drugs will have on them. This type of experimentation can lead to a point of no return (Nevid et al, 1998:311; cf. Ferron, 1990:174).
« Rebelliousness
There is a tendency once in a while for people in general to defy authority. This is particularly with adolescents as they relate to parents, teachers and society in general. It is known that it is illegal to use harmful drugs. Therefore, the use of drugs on the part of adolescents and others is a way of defying authority (Lauer, 1995:117).
• Social psychological factors
Some drug abusers seek certain psychic effects - euphoria, pleasure and change of mood. The quest for psychic effects, incidentally, may in turn be rooted in problems of low self-esteem, low self-confidence and a lack of purpose in life. In other words, for some users it is not just a matter of seeking quick gratification through drugs, but
of grasping at the one source of gratification that appears to be available (Lauer, 1995:119).
2.2.2 Consequences of drug abuse
Drug abuse in South Africa is a complex phenomenon that touches the lives of many people.
• Crime and prostitution
Most of the drugs to which people are addicted are expensive and are primarily available on the black market. In view of the fact that the addicts use them so frequently, they are enormously costly. Therefore, a way of funding the use of drugs is necessary for the addict so that the supply is sustained and constant. This may include stealing, prostitution, and drug trafficking. This brings to mind a statement made in parliament by the former President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, to the effect that if a person breaks a principle, a principle will find a way of breaking him. What is the principle broken here? Engaging in illegal use of drugs leads to addiction, which in turn forces the users to engage in criminal activities such as murder, sexual immorality and corruption (Mwamwenda, 1995:489).
• Physical health
Drug abuse contradicts our values of physical well-being. The physical consequences of narcotic addiction have been outlined by Lauer (1995:109) as follows:
• In general, addicts eat poorly (food being less important than drugs) and consequently they suffer the effects of malnutrition.
• Anemia is common; they are generally underweight.
• They have generally had a number of infections because of their carelessness in administering drugs.
• One of the great dangers of the use of these substances is that adolescents share hypodermic needles with which they administer the drugs, which is one of the ways in which HIV/Aids is spread (Gouws, etai, 2001:177-8).
• Children born to addicted mothers have been found to have a significant number of problems in early infancy and developmental deficiencies in the cognitive and psychomotor skills. In later childhood, the children may exhibit disturbances in their activity levels, attention spans and sleep pattern (Lauer, 1995:109-10).
2.2.3 Possible strategy to eliminate a society's drugs problem
There is at least one concrete example of successful efforts to resolve a societal drug problem: In China, for example, the government forbade the planting of opium, destroyed existing opium crops and equipment used to manufacture the drug and closed the opium dens. Dealers were sentenced to capital punishment or long-term imprisonment (Lauer, 1995:119). Of course, one would not want to duplicate the brutality of the Chinese approach, but it illustrates the point that one must attack the social bases as well as treat individual addicts. This is not to say that enforcement is useless, but only that treatment and programmes of education and prevention must be given at least as much, and perhaps more attention.
Having given this context, the possible strategies to eliminate or to reduce a country's drug abuse are:
• Enforcement programmes
Enforcement programmes involve efforts to prevent drugs from entering the country or from being produced within the country. It also means the capture, prosecution and imprisonment of users, dealers and pushers. A controversial form of enforcement is mandatory testing of employees in the workplace and pupils at school. Some people feel that such testing is a violation of individual's civil liberties. In some communities, citizen-oriented policing is used. Knowing that the police cannot solve the problem,
citizens band together to eliminate the condition that renews abatement laws and jail space, and engage in neighbourhood cleanup projects (Lauer, 1995:119-20).
• Treating addicts
The purpose of treating an addict is to reduce or eliminate his or her dependence on drugs. Various methods can be used:
Cocaine addicts, for example, undergo a variety of individual and group therapies. One method that has claimed some success is a form of behavioural therapy contingency contracting. In contingency the addicts make an agreement with the therapists to pay a severe penalty if urine tests reveal that they have ingested any of the drug during the week (Nevid et ai, 1998:342-3).
• Educational and prevention programmes
In many countries the bulk of monies allocated to the drug problem goes into enforcement. However, many people believe that the most important mode of attack is education and prevention, reducing the demand for drugs. In schools for example, drug education must begin early (recall that many children start using drugs by the sixth grade). Such educational programmes can enhance self-esteem as a way to prevent drug use (Lauer, 1995:120-21).
The conclusion that can be reached from the above-mentioned is that there are both pragmatic and moral/ethical problems for drug abuse: Pragmatically one cannot deny that drug abuse is a widespread problem in South Africa and that it affects all kinds of people. Ethically, drug use casts a shadow of fear over entire communities. Therefore, as one looks at the effects of the abuse or the quality of life of the individual, one must not forget how whole communities are impacted.
2.3 Criminality and violence
Lauer (1995:128) sees crime as: "those acts that are defined as threatening to the State or to citizens whom the State is obligated to protect". The South African Police Service distinguishes between various types of crimes: violent crime (i.e. murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, arson and malicious damage to property); property related crimes (these include burglary, stock theft, vehicle theft and theft out of motor vehicles and corruption); Crime related to the social fabric (i.e. rape, assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm), common assault and crimes against children (Popenoe et al, 1998:147-8). Three alarming manifestations in the new South Africa are worthwhile considering in this regard. These are violent crimes, domestic violence and corruption.
2.3.1 A spiralling of crime rates
The old dispensation and its atrocities eroded the moral fibre of the South African society. Parallel with the rise of criminality at a time of transition, public morality also seems to degenerate (Vorster, 2007:36). Terreblanche (2002:401) supports the above-mentioned statement saying, "South Africa has among the highest rates of violent crime in the world. More than 16 percent of all deaths in South Africa occur as a result of trauma, compared to a global figure of 5 percent calculated by the World Health Organisation (WHO)". Murders, hijackings, rape and rampant corruption are reported daily in the media, and this inevitably impacts on people's minds, affecting the way they think, the perceptions they develop and the way they adopt to deal with these circumstances (Malan & Smit, 2002:1; Brown, 2001:512; Berry, 1996:59).
Moreover, these categories of crime which strike terror in the hearts of all South Africans have increased by an alarming 25% countrywide between April 2006 and March 2007. Gildenhuys (2007:4) reports that Sandton was named as South Africans most dangerous suburb. Three hundred and forty three families were been attacked at gunpoint in their homes between April 2006 and March 2007. Sandton was also named as one of the highest risk areas for three other categories of crime, hijacking, business robbery and general aggravated robbery.
It is because of startling figures such as these that commentators speak of" a culture of violence" or a spiralling crime rate in South Africa (Kretzschmar & Hulley,
1998:2).
2.3.1.1 Factors that encourage violent crime
To curb or to minimize the tide of violent crime in this country, it is also important to question the cause of it and why South Africa seems to have a "pathologically" high rate of violent crime in comparison with other countries. The most apparent reasons for violent crimes in South Africa today are: ineffectiveness of the justice system, consciences have been cauterized and the most tragic misconception of pre-1994 elections.
• Ineffectiveness of the justice system
Crime is able to flourish in South Africa because the penal system lacks sufficient deterrent value. Factors contributing to this situation include: the easy granting of bail, inadequate and reduced sentences and a decline in the success rate as far as prosecutions are concerned. Compounding the problem is a judicial staff that lacks experience and a shortage of jail space (Popenoe et al, 1998; Van der Walt & Swanepoel, 1997:330).
• Consciences have been cauterized
Another factor why the levels of violent crime in South Africa are so high is because consciences have been cauterized. These Biblical concepts belong together, etymologically and theologically. This historic discontinuity between "justice" and "righteousness" is perpetuated by a lack of moral norms in the new South Africa. There are no references to any divinity who could set some external standards for human behaviour. Instead there are given human rights whose most recognizable philosophical sources are secular humanism. One is given certain "rights" that encourage what normal conscience says is wrong. For example: rights for the criminal but not rights for the victims (Van der Walt & Swanepoel, 1997:329).
• The tragic misconception of Pre-1994 elections
"Jobs for All" was a campaign slogan of the ruling party alliance during the 1994 election campaign. Hence, the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), which, was a commendable act of political bravery, was adopted as policy document by the ruling party alliance in 1994 (Terreblanche, 2002:108; cf. Fitzgerald, et al., 1995:6). This fostered the expectation, especially among under-educated youths who were tenaciously fixing their hopes of a better future on political consideration rather than on a programme of education and employment. Sadly these growing multitudes believed that instant wealth and success would be achieved as soon as the new government was in place (Millian, 1998:51). Equally important was the test of whether a new government could translate its visionary policy making effectively into effective delivery of social services (cf. Tomlinson et a/., 2003:104). There are a number of issues that can be mentioned in this regard, the important one being that the tension between wish and reality, between ideology and practice, between policy and implementation has, and always will be, major sources of political discontent and conflict. Those who promise in opposition have to deliver when in power, and invariably promise outstrip performance, leading to disillusionment and frustration, which in turn generates new opposition and revolts (Adam et al, 1997:160).
From the foregoing it is clear that the new government finds itself in a difficult position in trying to live up to its pre-1994 election promises of providing a "better life for all" and of creating "jobs for all". As Veith (1994:268) states: "The cynicism and transparent phoniness of postmodernist politics have profoundly disillusioned ordinary citizens, further eroding democracy. Political promises are no longer meant to be kept - that old fashioned view assumes that truth is some sort of an absolute. Rather, political promises are 'performative', meant to achieve a momentary result, to sway an audience or make a statement. Once the moment has passed, the result has been obtained and the politician faces 'new realities', he or she openly abandons the promise". Terreblanche (2002:112) also supports the above-mentioned statement by saying "This seems to show that the RDP was never an integral part of the new government's policy programme, but only a policy option propagated for electioneering purposes".
It became clear that there is a real sense of disillusionment with the normalisation of politics in 1994. People on the ground now felt that the government, whether local or national had become increasingly remote, inaccessible and unresponsive to their needs (Gumede, 2005:285).
2.3.1.2 Impact of crime
Apart from its direct impact on the daily life of the South African community, the current levels of crime have other far reaching adverse ramifications for the country's future economic development. Terreblanche (2002:121) recognized that: "In a series of surveys undertaken in 1999 by the World Bank in conjunction with Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council, 94 percent of the large firms interviewed identified crime as the most important obstacle to investment and growth". This means that crime in South Africa is very turbulent and internationally can affect tourism and the hospitality market's planning almost instantaneously (George, 1999:319). For example: no one will visit a place if they believe that it is dangerous -and the same goes for tourists. They are also concerned about their personal safety and security of their possessions. This means that safety is important and it can influence a tourists' decision about whether to visit a town, city, region or country. Political events, military action, crime and terrorism always disrupt international travel. If violence of some kind flares up in a country where a tourist was planning to go, he or she will most likely go somewhere else (Jones, et ai, 1998:14).
2.3.1.3 Summary
It is clear from the preceeding' paragraphs that crime is a threat to national security and, therefore, a threat to South Africa's young democracy. Due to its cross-cutting nature, the impact of crime is felt across all socio-economic strata, jeopardizing the enjoyment of the universal benefits of the Bill of Rights. In this regards one must bring about a situation in which consciences are been re-sensitised with inner moral values (Kretzschmar & Hulley, 1998:2; Van der Walt & Swanepoel, 1997:330). This means that measures aimed at eradicating crime must be shared as part of a vision and
commitment to deal with this formidable threat to the human rights culture, the moral destiny and the success as a nation.
2.3.2 Domestic violence
Although the O.J. Simpson case may have brought the problem of domestic violence into the public eye, battering or spouse abuse is a national crisis. Surveys show that each year in the United States, at least 2 million women are severely beaten by their male partners, and about 1 of 18 husbands engage in at least one act of spousal violence. Nearly 2,000 women die as the result of these beatings (Nevid, et al, 1994:530). This does not exclude South Africa as country. Vorster (2007:37) provides the following information in his research on this subject:
It appears from studies and work by organisations offering support to victims that the incidence of domestic violence is very high in South Africa. Community- based studies have revealed that in some areas almost a quarter of women report having being abused in their lifetimes by a current or ex-partner, and that up to a half are affected by emotional or financial abuse. A survey of 269 women who had contacted helping agencies in three major cities found emotional or physical abuse to be the most prevalent form of domestic violence experienced by women, with 90 percent of the sample having experienced this abuse.
This is a striking and disturbing statistic, suggesting, as it does, that South African women confront very real dangers in the home, and that men in their lives- people from whom they are entitled to receive far, far better treatment, are responsible for much of the violence committed against them (Altbeker, 2007:85). In view of this, it can be stated without any fear of contradiction that South Africa has amongst the highest rates of famicide in the world. The father would kill the wife and his children if he were no longer able to provide for them (Herman & Marshall, 1998:44).
2.3.2.1 The meaning of domestic violence
Domestic violence has been classified as a crime of moral turpitude, which refers to acts of behaviour that greatly violate moral sentiments or accepted moral standards of the communities and is the morally culpable quality held to be present in some criminal offences as distinguished from others. It has been called by many names, e.g., wife beating, battering, family violence and domestic abuse. All refer to abuse by one person of another in an intimate relationship (Berry, 1996:1).
Wiley (1999:75) defines domestic violence as follows:
"Domestic violence appears to be a behaviours or set of behaviour arising from multiple sources, which follow different patterns in different families, rather than being a syndrome with a single underlying cause. Parent-child relationships are likely to vary with the different patterns of violence, and children of different ages and gender are affected differently. There are also several trajectories for recovery and reconstitution of family relationships and the potential for future violence".
It is clear from the definition that domestic violence may be either physical or psychological in nature. Physical violence refers to one member of the family beating another member. In most cases, this involves the husband beating either the wife or children. In a psychological sense, domestic violence may involve neglect of a member of family, particularly young children. It could also mean name-calling and treating a member of the family with contempt and as a person of little value, worthless, irrelevant and insignificant, which is likely to lead to a low level of self-esteem. This type of treatment and domestic violence in general is also referred to as either wife or child abuse. Both are serious, often life-endangering social problems that lead to family disorganisation and ultimately to dissolution (Mwamwenda,
2.3.2.2 The dynamics of domestic violence
Unlike victims, most abusers tend to share a number of common traits, background factors and behaviour patterns. Virtually all of the experts in the various fields who have studied the dynamics of domestic violence and the abuser personality agree that the goal of the abuser is power and control over his partner (Nevid et a!., 1994:530; Berry, 1996:36; Weiten & Lloyd, 1997:278). Despite the changes of the past few decades, the educational, religious, military and recreational institutions still tend to encourage boys to be aggressive, authoritarian and to refrain from showing emotions ('Tigers don't cry attitude'). Such conduct is considered "manly". At the same time, girls are raised to be passive, submissive and with gentle traits traditional considered feminine. Too much power under any circumstances eventual leads to the abuse thereof.
Yet, indeed, male power has become an undisputed aspect in the way of living. Men maintain much authority over women and children in their homes, on the streets, in sport, in government institutions and many other private and public sectors (Marshall & Herman, 1977:44). Cultural attitudes towards domestic violence also contribute to its proliferation. One is trained to respect ones neighbour's privacy, which gives one a good excuse to look the other way when one suspects something ugly may be going on behind the drawn curtains. We tell ourselves that we are "minding our own business" when we ignore crashes and screams and perhaps even police cars late at night (cf. Berry, 1996:109).
2.3.2.3 The cycle of domestic violence
The cycle of the domestic violence may vary from home to home, but the cycle usually displays these ongoing components:
• Tension building phase
> Minor fights and incidents, violence abuse occurs and increases. > Acute battering and incidents, violence abuse occurs and increases.
> The man assaults the woman badly enough for her to seek some kind of intervention.
• Battered- woman syndrome
> The women feel that they cannot control the abuser's violence and cannot escape.
> The women become more and more isolated from friends and family. > Refusal to socialize and exceptional nervousness, jumpiness and fear > Low self-esteem and denial minimisation of the abuse.
> A combination of love and fear for their partner.
> Dependent and submissive (Berry, 1996:31; cf. Wiley, 1999:71).
2.3.2.4 Effects of domestic violence on women and children
There are number of effects that have been associated with the apparent extent and seriousness of domestic violence:
« Deviant behaviour
There is no denying that domestic violence is the breeding ground of moral decay in South Africa. Perhaps the most disturbing effect of family violence is the way in which it teaches children that this is the way a family functions and that violence is an acceptable way to solve problems and, that men should dominate and abuse women, and women should submit (Baikanyo & O' Donnell 1997:98). It is in the use of violence by men against women in the domestic set up that their children, in particular the boys, frequently first become familiarized with violence as a means for conflict management. For example: If a person has been abused by someone powerful like a parent or relative, they want to inflict the pain back. A common threat through all types of rape was that perpetrators had experienced trauma during childhood, such as sexual abuse or other violence (Lauer, 1995:444; Smyke, 1993:54; Weiten & Lloyd,
• Maladjustment
Children who have observed domestic violence in their families tend to have various difficulties that one can subsume under the category of maladjustment. This kind of maladjustment produces anti-social behaviour (such as aggression and bullying), insecurity, over conformity to one's peers, a tendency to withdraw from relationships, difficulties in relating to others, and problems with one's personal identity where people want to project their pain on someone else ... they find relief in seeing others suffer (Lauer, 1995:444; Nevid, 1994:531; Bray, 1997:67; Smyke, 1993:54).
2.3.2.5 The long-term strategies to eliminate domestic violence
The long-term strategies to eliminate violence against women include:
• measures to raise the status of women and gain recognition of their full human rights;
• research to be able to prevent a fuller picture of the much under-reported violence against women;
• education of girls and boys from the earliest age in the idea of equality between sexes, respect for everyone's human rights and non-violent ways to resolve conflicts;
• lobbying to reform laws that allow violence towards women to go unpunished, and seeing that the laws are enforced;
• sensitizing police, lawyers, social workers, teachers and religious and political leaders to the issues;
• working to change public attitudes that tolerate and perpetuate violence against women. Traditionally, emphasis has been placed on a "macho" male role, in which aggression and violence are associated with power, masculinity and success (Symke, 1993:57; cf. Brigham, 1991:454).
2.3.3 Summary
It is clear from the above that the South African community still has a long way to go in promoting respect for the human dignity of women and children. However, the leadership of the present government in promoting the status of women and its strong stand and actions against domestic violence are praiseworthy.
2.4 A culture of corruption
When one talks about crime in South Africa, most people think of things such as burglary or car hijackings. However, there are other types of more subtle crimes which probably cost more to society than the value of all the burglaries and bank robberies put together. This hidden crime is known as corruption and consists of two types of overlapping crimes: White-collar crimes where the employee uses his/her position in the public sector to steal and business crime which is the routine abuse of the private sector (companies) in order to make greater profit (Moore, 1996:248; Cox & Wade, 1998:88-89; Brown, 2001:518). Yet, indeed, corruption in all its forms and manifestations constitutes a process that negates the democracy and development the ordinary people need to transcend the boundaries of their world of poverty, underdevelopment and disempowerment.
2.4.1 Corruption in state institutions
One reality already facing post-1994 South Africa is the stark fact that despite a new non-racial government and noble ideals, wastage and corruption still occur at government level and in private companies. International and local companies see some prize pickings to be made in the development programme that the new government wishes to pursue. Unfortunately, greed and bribery lurk in the corridors of both big business and officialdom. It has become an accepted way of doing business in many African nations and, if South Africa were to sink to the level of bribery and corruption of some of these states, the poor and needy will not see their expectations become a reality.
Because unofficial and official reporting of this problem are mostly done under the collective heading of corruption and almost always concern only hard-core transgressions, it is difficult to differentiate statistically between the various types of corruption. What is important, however, is to have a comprehensive picture of what is happening in society. The following examples provide evidence of its presence:
« Male administration was the most common form of corruption in the public sector and is responsible for 60,42% of all cases. It is followed by alleged fraud at 20, 83%, bribery at 8, 38%, the abuse of state assets at 6, 25% and nepotism at 4,17% (Malan & Smit, 2001:11). According to Kretzschmar and Hulley (1998:3), these include the sale of matriculation examination papers, thefts within pension offices, fraud in the Housing and Land Affairs Department, and irregularities in the Low Cost Housing budget. In terms of Provinces, the following examples will serve as truth that corruption is rife in State institutions:
• In Mpumalanga, alleged fraud at 55, 86% and maladministration at 29,41% were the most general forms of corruption and were respectively responsible for 11,76% and 7,94% of all cases. In the Northern Province (Limpopo), alleged fraud and maladministration were responsible for 80% of all cases of corruption, while bribery, nepotism and the abuse of State assets amounts to 20% (Malan & Smit, 2001:11).
The North West Provincial Legislature, in its 1997 - 1998 financial report uncovered serious financial bungling in nine Provincial departments and the loss of millions of the taxpayer's money. The following statements can be used as proof:
• Loans, totalling R56 million were granted for which loan agreements were not in place and for which no repayments have been received.
• It was also found that in most departments budgets were exceeded, with the Education Department spending R304 million with no authorisation.
• Tender board regulations were violated, resulting in unauthorized expenditure (Van Niekerk et al, (2001:122).
• The Travelgate scandal, in which it is alleged that certain MPs from various political parties had benefited from fraudulent travel expenses claims, is another case, which supports the notion that corruption is uncontrollable in the public sector (Gumede, 2005:106).
• Corruption also includes all forms of fraud, the failure to do one's work properly, greed, inefficiency and indifference on the part of the public at large (Kretzschmar&Hulley, 1998:2).
Moreover, this category of crime, which creates an atmosphere of distrust in society, lowering social morale, and creating widespread social disorganisation, has increased. According to a report of Transparency International issued in 2005, it is indicated that corruption is endemic at the provincial and local levels of government. This affects the capacity of the public sector to deliver services for the poor negatively. According to the report almost R2 billion (US $332 million) was lost to corruption in 2003 in the area of social welfare (Vorster, 2007:36).
2.4.2 Causes of corruption in public sector
A number of factors combined are related to corruption in the public sector:
® Lack of supervision
Supervision, meaning to oversee, control and inspect the work of subordinates, is vital if an organisation is to function effectively, efficiently, economically and with integrity. If done constructively, supervision not only keeps people on their toes, but also provides guidance and forms an important part of in-service training. In a transformational phase such as South Africa is going through at present, proper supervision is vital to ensure that inexperienced officials do their jobs properly. If neglected, especially where people are not properly trained, misadministration and a fall in standards are inevitable (Van der Waldt & Helmbold, 1995:161; Botes et ah,
• Norms and standards confusion
It is obvious that in any institution and in all moral choices the question about norms is of utmost importance. However, the lack of an adequate standard of norms creates a void for the idler and the opportunist to fill and abuse. Especially during periods of transition, when values and norms are being redefined, a high premium should be placed on personal qualities such as self-respect, integrity and loyalty (cf. Malan & Smit, 2001:46).
• Ineffective delegation
Leaders and employees usually behave unethically when the central principles of delegation are neglected. A major problem with the process of delegation arises when the person delegated to is not capable of carrying out the task delegated to him/her. This is more likely to happen in situations where public officials are inexperienced or not properly trained (Van der Waldt & Helmbold, 1995:162).
• Incompetence and a lack of exposure
Since 1994, the main focus in the public service was placed on representation and affirmative action. This succeeds in correcting imbalances, but often fails to maintain standards of efficiency. It is a national process that people have to spend much time in their jobs to gain experience. It is an indisputable reality that lack of skilled personnel in the public sector is one of the biggest factor hampering service delivery. Development of basic leadership skills through proper training and exposure is a time consuming process that cannot be hurried (Malan & Smit, 2001:45).
• Inadequate legislation
Inadequate legislation can be the result of autocratic rule, where the small governing elite passes laws, which benefit them and not all the people. However, in present-day South Africa it is more likely to be the result of inexperienced and improperly trained
politicians and officials failing to draw up efficient and effective legislation (Botes et
• Problems in the application of affirmative action
Affirmative action is a principle accepted by most of the people of South Africa as a way to put right discriminatory practices of the past. It is, however, its unethical applications in certain government departments that is a cause for concern, which not only results in a drastic fall of standards, but is also costing the State millions of rand through inefficiency and inadequate control (Terreblanche, 2002:447; Ramphele,
1996:2). Problems arise when the policy is irresponsibly applied:
A major cause of problems is when affirmative action is treated as if it were the same thing as transformation, and so becomes more important than any other consideration, including those of efficiency and the maintaining of standards and effective service delivery. This largely happens because the difference between affirmative action and transformation has not been clearly defined by leaders.
Problems are also caused:
• When the judgment of those who apply affirmative action are clouded by subjective consideration such as self-interest.
• When all those involved (black and white) do not participate in drawing up the affirmative policy.
• When the policy is not implemented in the way that has been agreed on. This destroys trust and credibility in an area already loaded with sensitivities. • When policy results in reverse discrimination.
• When the potential of specific candidates is not properly assessed and appointments are made for unethical reasons (favouritism and bribery).
• When staffs appointed because of affirmative action are not properly trained to do their jobs.
• When the policy is put into practice too quickly, resulting in a loss of knowledge and expertise in an organisation that cannot possible be compensated for.
• When unrealistic expectations are placed on affirmative action candidates (Malan & Smit, 2001:47; Hebbert, 1994:19).
It is clear from the above that whatever is done, in the new political dispensation, one has to ensure that one does not confuse strategies for programmes, and use means which are politically attractive in the short-term, but which would, in the medium and long-term, compromise the vision of an equitable non-racial and non-sexist society.
2.4.3 Corruption in the private sector
Corruption is not only an observable fact within the public sector but also within the private sector. Vorster (2007:36) states that corruption and fraud in the private sector may cost the economy as much as R50 billion (US $8.3 billion).
Therefore, it is obvious that almost every type of unethical behaviour seen in the public sector also applies to the private sector. Thus, only those types that are relatively unique to the private sector, as well as those types that appear when the private and public sectors interact in doing business they are both involved in will be discussed. The most dramatic example of the possible effects of these crimes is:
• One common factor of fraud in the private sector is inside dealings, in which individuals who know that the company is about to be the subject of a takeover bid bring shares in a company. These individuals illegally use their knowledge to make a killing on the stock market. A number of prominent businessmen have been accused of fraud when their businesses got into debt and collapsed (Haralambos & Holborn, 1995:402).
• Contractors load their prices unrealistically to make excessive profits or to finance the bribe.
• Contractors work together to draw up minimum specifications for a job that are not really necessary.
• The supply of products and services that do not conform with the agreed specifications
• Contractors put in unrealistically low tenders, knowing that they will never be able to do the job according to the tender specifications (Malan & Smit, 2001:21).
2.4.4 The basic causes of corruption in the private sector
• Competition
Unethical competition can take many forms, but the motivation behind it is basically the same: the desire of particularly the managers of the companies involved for wealth and power. This can be worse if the government of the country concerned is corrupt and fails to set and enforce strict codes of behaviour for business. Taking their lead from the government, the managers of companies will feel that they can do anything they please.
• Professional bodies and associations
Because professional bodies and associations are primarily responsible for their own professional conduct, unethical behaviour can usually be traced back to efforts they make to over-protect their professions, making them more exclusive than necessary.
• The provision of vital services
Ethical transgressions in this arena occur because services such as water and electricity are usually provided by monopolies, which include public authorities. This means that there is no competition so consumers have to accept whatever such monopolies decide to offer in the way of service, at the prices often inflated. The scope of mismanagement and abuse is large in such circumstances (cf. Malan & Smit, 2001:58).
2.4.S A number of factors combine to reduce the extent of corruption
• It is difficult to detect: Many white-collar crimes are crimes without victims. » In cases of bribery and corruption, parties involved may see themselves as
gaining from the arrangement, both are liable to prosecution and, therefore, neither are likely to report the offence.
• In cases where the victim is the public at large (such as mispresentation in advertising) few members of the public have the expertise to realize that they are being misled or have knowledge of legal procedures to redress the wrong. In such cases detection and prosecution is often left to a government agency who rarely has the personnel or finance to bring more than a few cases to court in the hope of deterring the practice (Haralambos & Holborn, 1995:404).
Public sector leadership and behaviour form a major yardstick to measure a country's morality and credibility in the eyes of the rest of the world, and this accentuates the importance thereof. In addition, in the eight commandment, the word rendered to steal literally means to secretly take for yourself something belonging to someone else, e.g. state, private company or to someone else. The actual meaning of this commandment is that one should have the right attitude - as willed by God, to all earthly possessions, be it one's own or that of others. Because this commandment is also a concretisation of the law of love, it requires one to protect other people's possessions to the best of one's ability and to prevent anything that could be detrimental to them (De Bruyn, 1993:22).
2.5 Ethical perspectives
Considering all the above-mentioned consequences and harmful effects of drug abuse, domestic violence, crime and corruption, the Scriptural and Confessional viewpoint on these relevant matters can be formulated as follows:
It is obvious that in any ethical system and in all moral choices the question about norms is of utmost importance. What is the content of these norms and where do we find them? In a Christian approach to ethics there can be no other starting point than that of theonomy. By this is meant that the questions about one's deeds and decisions, one's actions and choices, can only be answered correctly if one listens to what God says. This means in our daily lives we have to follow the will of God (Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 4:24; Col. 1:9; Heb. 5:12; 1 John 2:17) - and not our own will (autonomy). In this approach, where obedience to the will of God lies at the very heart of ethics, we logically reject the idea that our experience, or tradition, or reason, or intuition, or nature, how important they may be, can have the last say in ethical decision-making.
Two further aspects need attention in this regard. The first one refers to our conscience. Scripture speaks of a "clear" conscience (Acts 24:16; 2 Tim. 1:3) and a "good" conscience (Acts 23:1), but also of a "corrupt" conscience (Tit. 1:5).
Our conscience did not escape the disastrous effects of sin and has to be liberated (cleansed by Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:14). Therefore, we cannot identify the voice of our conscience with the voice of God, although God may speak through our conscience, something which should be appreciated. Our conscience has to function under the guidance of the Word and Spirit of God.
This brings one to the second aspect, namely the guidance of the Spirit. It is the Spirit of God who purifies our conscience, who changes our attitude, who transforms our minds and who regenerates our whole personality (Tit. 3:5, 1 John 3:9). If this does not take place, the Christian life is impossible, because "the mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" (cf. Rom. 8:6, Eph. 5:18).
CHAPTER THREE
THE CALLING OF THE CHURCH IN MORAL RENEWAL OF SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNITY
3.1 Introduction
The Church has always faced problems, but the scope and intensity of its problems now seem to be greater than at any previous time in its history (Gairns, 1996:528). Even in a new political dispensation, Christianity faces great challenges. Within the South African context, the following challenges can be identified:
• The first is to come to terms with the new status of Christianity under the emerging secular State. This means a full recognition that the churches and Christians no longer have the monopoly in matters of ethics and morality in society, and can, therefore, no longer impose their will upon other religious and even non-religious communities.
• The second major challenge facing the Church is that of resisting the threat of being marginalized in matters of socio-political and economic influence and policy-making.
• Thirdly, perhaps the most formidable contemporary challenge facing the churches is the awakening, or re-awakening of the moral conscience of a nation, which, by many accounts, finds itself on the slippery slope of widespread moral decay. The teaching ministry of the church is going to be subjected to one of its greatest tests, namely that of shaping sound moral character amongst its own constituencies (Kretzchmar & Hulley, 1998:150-1).
Having given this background, the main objective of this chapter, therefore, is to study and to outline the prophetic role of the church towards moral regeneration.
This chapter will, therefore, deal with the following aspects:
• Brief explanation of the concept Kingdom.
• The role of the Church in the perspectives of the Kingdom. • The Church as organism.
• Summary.
3.2 Brief explanation of the concept Kingdom
Vorster (2007:252) maintains that the concept Kingdom can be regarded as one of the central issues in the biblical revelation". In essence, the term Kingdom can be summarized in the following three facets:
• God is sovereign King of the entire universe;
• He rules and directs his subjects through His will as expressed in His laws; • With the result that all His creatures can experience life in its fullness.
Summarised "Kingdom of God" includes the King (God Triune), His rules and His blessings (Van der Walt, 2007:84; Senkhane, 2002:32).
3.3 The relationship between the Church and the Kingdom
Ladd (1993:103) mentions that: "One of the most difficult question in the study of the Kingdom of God is its relationship to the Church. Is the Kingdom of God in any sense of the word to be identified with the Church? If not, what is the relationship?"
The specific relationship between the Kingdom and the Church will now be examined.
3.3.1 The Church is the object of the Kingdom
The Church is not the subject, but the object of the Kingdom. Therefore, the Church, in its suppressed situation, seeks preservation, support, shelter in God's government, and it is looking forward to the fullness of God's Kingdom in the coming age. The Kingdom is thus related to the history of the Church and the world alike. A connection exists between Kingdom and Church, but they are not identical, even in the present age. The Kingdom is the whole of God's redeeming activity in Christ in
the world; the Church is the assembly of those who belong to Jesus Christ. Perhaps one could speak in terms of two concentric circles, of which the Church is the smaller and the Kingdom the larger, while Christ is the centre of both (Bruce et al.,
1990:658).
3.3.2 The Church proclaims the Kingdom
The Church, as the organ of the Kingdom, is called to proclaim the Kingdom, to the missionary task of preaching the Gospel in the world; it is also the community of those who wait for the coming of the Kingdom in glory, the servants who have received their Lord's talents in prospect of his return (Vorster, 2007:197). Therefore, the Church receives its whole constitution from the Kingdom, on all sides the Church is beset and directed by the revelation, the progress, the future coming of the Kingdom of God, without at any time being the Kingdom itself or even being identified with it (Bruce et al., 1990:658). This is illustrated by the commission Jesus gave to the twelve (Mt. 10) and to the seventy; (Lk. 10) and it is reinforced by the proclamation of the apostle in the books of Acts.
Implicit exegetical support for this view is to be found in the great emphasis Jesus placed on forgiveness and humility among his disciples (Mk. 10:35). Thus, those who have experienced the Kingdom of God are to display its life by humble willingness to serve rather than by self-seeking.
3.3.3 The Church is the custodian of the Kingdom
The rabbinic concept of the Kingdom of God conceived of Israel as the custodian of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God was the rule of God that began on earth in Abraham, and was committed to Israel through the Law. Since the rules of God could be experienced only through the Law, and since Israel was the custodian of the Law, Israel was in effect the custodian of the Kingdom of God. When Gentiles became Jewish proselytes and adopted the Law, they thereby took upon themselves the sovereignty of heaven, the Kingdom of God. God's rule was mediated to the Gentiles through Israel; they alone were "sons of the Kingdom. In Jesus, the reign of God manifested itself in a new redemptive event, displaying in an unexpected way within
history the powers of the eschatological Kingdom. The nation as a whole rejected the proclamation of this divine event, but those who accepted it became the true children of the Kingdom and entered into the enjoyment of its blessings and powers. These disciples of Jesus, His ecclesia, now became the custodians of the Kingdom rather than the nation of Israel (Ladd, 1993:115).
3.3.4 The Church is the instrument of the Kingdom
According to Ladd (1993:1 14), the Church is the instrument of the Kingdom. The disciples of Jesus not only proclaimed the good news about the presence of the Kingdom; they were also instruments of the Kingdom in that the works of the Kingdom were performed through them as through Jesus himself. Therefore, the Kingdom is not confined within the frontiers of the Church. Christ's Kingship is supreme above all. Where it prevails and is acknowledged, not only is the individual human being set free, but also the whole pattern of life is changed (Mt. 10:8; Lk.10: 17). The change, which Christianity brings about among peoples dominated by nature-religions, is a proof of the comprehensive, all embracing significance of the Kingdom. It works not only outwardly like a mustard seed but also inwardly like leaven. It makes its way into the world with its redeeming power.
It can be deduced that the word servant hood has a long history, that it has been woven into the religious heritage of Israel, and that it is a title, which is fitting that Jesus should inherit and possess. Even at this stage one can see that this title is important when it is applied to the prophetic role of the church (Barclay, 1995:161-2). Thus the church as a congregation of believers, as well as individual Christians, are servants (instruments) in service of the Kingdom of God. As servant of Christ the church is thus a unique community in the midst of many other human communities in modern society. It has its own character, calling and way of doing things. It is responsible for its actions not to humankind, but to Christ. The best way to describe this uniqueness is with the concept "holiness". To be holy means to be different from the worldly, not in a pietistic sense such as in Pentecostal ism, but in the active pursuance of other principles and norms than those controlling modern society (Vorster, 2007:256-7).
The next logical step is to attempt to understand the relationship between Jesus' ethical teaching and his preaching about the Kingdom of God. During His earthly ministry Jesus was, in His person and in His teaching, disturbingly radical but at the same time intensely relevant. In addition, the cultural life of the younger generation, for example, changes completely about every four or five years. Moreover, many people find themselves quite unable to adjust to this speed of change, and consequently lapse into apathy, loneliness, frustration, depression or despair. Adding to the bewilderment is the time consuming and desperately slow business of trying to reform the structures of the Church, with endless reports and commissions, new methods of government, new patterns of ministry and new forms of service. The intention is good, but the speed at which the Church is changing is much slower than the speed at which the gap between the Church and the world is expanding (Watson, 1979:136). These issues are not only theoretical and theological, but they have far reaching practical implications and consequences.
How, then, can the Church become relevant, and stay relevant, in a world that is changing at an ever-increasing speed.
3.4 The role of the church in the perspective of the Kingdom
Senkhane (2002:9) observes that: "Most people belief that the Church is just an entity which is isolated from the community and is only there to serve it's members in terms of the baptism of babies so that when they are grown up they can acquire baptismal certificates which allow them to become rightful and legal citizens". She goes further saying, the laymen probably assume this belief from the actual practice Church members often engage in, with regard to activities without proper acquisition of what the Church as opposed to other social organisations are all about.
However, the Church of Christ is the special covenant that exists, through God's grace, in response to God's action in Jesus Christ and that has its special calling the proclamation in word and deed of God's inclusive covenant with its declaration of God's love and its demand for faith in God and love with justice toward all persons (Allen, 1995:287; Dake, 1992:518; Monsma, 2006:108). This means that the Church
